TAIWAN TAIWAN SNAPSHOT - Ministry of Foreign...
48
Published by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan) TAIWAN 2017 THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA AT A GLANCE
Transcript of TAIWAN TAIWAN SNAPSHOT - Ministry of Foreign...
Published by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)
TAIWAN2017
THE REPUBLIC OF CHINAAT A GLANCE
Price: NT$70 US$2 / GPN: 1010600997 / MOFA-EN
Offi cial name Republic of China (Taiwan)
National Flag
National Flower
Area (Taiwan and outlying islands) 36,197 square kilometers
Population 23.55 million (April 2017)
Ethnicity
Over 95 percent Han Chinese (including Holo, Hakka and other groups that originated in mainland China), 2 percent indigenous Malayo-Polynesian peoples, 2 percent new immigrants, primarily from mainland China and Southeast Asia
Government Multiparty democracy
President Tsai Ing-wen
Capital Taipei City
Special municipalities
Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung cities
National currency New Taiwan dollar (NT$ or TWD)
LanguagesMandarin (Chinese),Holo (Taiwanese), Hakka, Austronesian languages
Major religionsBuddhism, Taoism, I-Kuan Tao, Chinese folk religions, Christianity, Islam
TAIWAN SNAPSHOT
MFEQ6COVER_BACK+MA_MB.indd 1 2017/7/13 11:03:32 PM
Published by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)
TAIWAN2017
THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA AT A GLANCE
Published by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)
TAIWAN2017
THE REPUBLIC OF CHINAAT A GLANCE
Price: NT$70 US$2 / GPN: 1010600997 / MOFA-EN
Offi cial name Republic of China (Taiwan)
National Flag
National Flower
Area (Taiwan and outlying islands) 36,197 square kilometers
Population 23.55 million (April 2017)
Ethnicity
Over 95 percent Han Chinese (including Holo, Hakka and other groups that originated in mainland China), 2 percent indigenous Malayo-Polynesian peoples, 2 percent new immigrants, primarily from mainland China and Southeast Asia
Government Multiparty democracy
President Tsai Ing-wen
Capital Taipei City
Special municipalities
Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung cities
National currency New Taiwan dollar (NT$ or TWD)
LanguagesMandarin (Chinese),Holo (Taiwanese), Hakka, Austronesian languages
Major religionsBuddhism, Taoism, I-Kuan Tao, Chinese folk religions, Christianity, Islam
TAIWAN SNAPSHOT
MFEQ6COVER_BACK+MA_MB.indd 1 2017/7/13 11:03:32 PM
Kinmen
Penghu
m300020001000500250500
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Diaoyutai Islands
Green Island
Orchid Island
Taipei City
New Taipei CityTaoyuan City
Taichung City
Tainan City
Kaohsiung City
Taiwan Strait
Pacific Ocean
Matsu
mainland China Republic of China
(Taiwan)
The Philippines
Nansha Islands (Spratly Islands)
Shisha Islands (Paracel Islands) Chungsha Islands
(Macclesfield Bank)
Tungsha Islands (Pratas Islands)
Malaysia
Vietnam South China Sea
Published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,Republic of China (Taiwan)
No. 2, Ketagalan Blvd., Taipei 10048, Taiwan, ROChttp://www.mofa.gov.tw
Printed by Red & Blue Color Printing Co., Ltd.No. 9, Lane 327, Zhongshan Road, Section 2, Zhonghe District, New Taipei City 23585, Taiwan, ROC
Editors: Lester Liyen Yang, Ciaran Madden, Jason Gerock, John Scott MarchantContributing editors: Meg Chang, Oscar Chung, Pat Gao, Kelly Her, Jim Hwang, Wendy KuoLayout and Graphic Designer: Lin Hsin-chieh
Distributor: Taiwan Panorama MagazineNo. 2, Tianjin Street, Taipei 10051, Taiwan, ROCTel: (+886-2) 2392-2256http://www.taiwan-panorama.com
Catalog Card No.: MOFA-EN-BO-106-019-I-1GPN: 1010600997 ISBN: 978-986-05-3056-81st edition, C435 August 2017Printed in TaiwanPrice: NT$70 US$2
All rights reserved. Reproduction of this book, in part or in whole, without written permission of the copyright holder is prohibited. Contact agency: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)Tel: (+886-2) 3356-8198
NATURAL TAIWAN 2PEOPLE 8HISTORY 14POLITICAL SYSTEM 24FOREIGN AFFAIRS 32CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS 40ECONOMY 46SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 56EDUCATION 64CULTURE 68MASS MEDIA 72VISITING TAIWAN 76LEARNING MANDARIN 84
CONTENTS
32
NATURAL TAIWAN
DO YOU KNOW?
The Republic of China (Taiwan) is situated
in the West Pacific between Japan and
the Philippines. Its jurisdiction extends
to the archipelagoes of Penghu, Kinmen
and Matsu, as well as numerous other
islets. The total area of Taiwan proper
and its outlying islands is around 36,197
square kilometers. At about the size of the
Netherlands, but with a population of some
Laomei Algal Reef in northern Taiwan’s New Taipei City (Jimmy Lin)
• Taiwan’s Jade Mountain is the highest peak in East Asia.
• Around 20 percent of the country’s land area is protected.
2
54
in the Tungsha (Pratas), Nansha (Spratly), Shisha (Paracel)
and Chungsha (Macclesfield Bank) islands, are also part of
the territory of the ROC.
Sitting in the path of warm ocean currents off the east coast
of continental Asia, Taiwan proper is uniquely blessed with
a wide range of climatic zones from tropical to temperate.
This, in combination with fertile soil and abundant rainfall,
makes it an agricultural paradise where virtually any kind of
fruit or vegetable can be cultivated. It also makes the island
a recreational wonderland. In the winter, one can watch
the snow fall on the slopes of Hehuan Mountain in Nantou
County and then travel a mere 200 kilometers to balmy
Pingtung County to enjoy skin diving at coral reefs along the
island’s southern tip.
Land area: 36,197 square kilometers
Length of Taiwan: 395 kilometers
Width of Taiwan: 144 kilometers
Agricultural land: 7,966.2 square kilometers
Highest peak: Jade Mountain (3,952 meters)
Average temperature: 22 C
January: 18 C
July: 29 C
SNAPSHOT23 million, Taiwan is more populous than three-quarters
of the world’s nations. Taiwan proper has more than its
share of natural splendor. Mountain ranges with many
peaks reaching over 3,000 meters—including East Asia’s
highest, Jade Mountain (Yushan)—and forested foothills
occupy more than half of its area. The island also features
volcanic mountains, tablelands, coastal plains and basins.
The Diaoyutai Islands, which lie northeast of Taiwan, and a
number of islands in the South China Sea, including those
The golden birdwing, Troides aeacus formosanus, an endemic butterfly species (Yeh Ming-yuan)
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South Penghu Marine National Park
Tungsha Atoll National Park
Kinmen National Park
Kenting National Park
Yushan National Park
Taroko National Park
Shei-pa National Park
Taijiang National Park
Yangmingshan National Park
endangered species, the Formosan Landlocked Salmon
Refuge was established in the upper reaches of the Dajia
River in Shei-pa National Park.
NATIONAL PARKS
The smaller islands, meanwhile, have their own unique
natural features, such as the basalt pillars on the Penghu
Islands and the marine hot springs along the shores of
Green Island and Guishan Island.
Flora and FaunaTaiwan’s tropical-to-temperate spectrum of climatic zones
and wide range of topographies have endowed the island
with a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Some 120 species of
mammals, 670 species of birds, 141 species of reptiles, 65
species of amphibians, 400 species of butterflies and 3,100
species of fish are known to inhabit Taiwan. The island’s
plant life comprises 674 species of ferns, 4,596 species of
angiosperms and 34 species of gymnosperms. To protect
the ecosystems in which these plants and animals reside,
the government has reserved about 20 percent of the
nation’s land area as protected areas, comprising nine
national parks and one national nature park, 22 nature
reserves for special ecosystems, six forest reserve areas, 20
wildlife refuges and 37 major wildlife habitats.
Among the most famous Taiwan species of fauna is the
Formosan landlocked salmon (Oncorhynchus masou
formosanus). The fish is believed to have become trapped
in the frigid mountain waters of central Taiwan during
the last ice age when ocean levels dropped dramatically
and the salmon could no longer migrate back and
forth between fresh water and salt water. To protect the
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DO YOU KNOW?
While Taiwan may be described as a
predominantly Han Chinese society,
with more than 95 percent of the
population claiming Han ancestry,
its heritage is actually much more
complex. The successive waves of
Chinese immigrants that began
PEOPLE
• There are 16 officially recognized indigenous tribes in Taiwan.
• The nation is home to more than 520,000 new immigrants, most of whom hail from mainland China and Southeast Asia.
An early morning exercise group at Xinzhuang Sports Park in New Taipei City (Chen Mei-ling)
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Population:
Population structure : Ethnicity :
0-14 years: 13.3 %
15-64 years: 73.31 %
65 and above: 13.39 %
Han Chinese: 95.4 %
Indigenous peoples: 2.4 %
New immigrants: 2.2 %
SNAPSHOT
(April 2017)23,547,448
Crude birth rate (2016): 8.86 (per 1,000 people)
Crude death rate (2016): 7.33 (per 1,000 people)
Life expectancy: 80.2 years
Male: 77.01years
83.62yearsFemale:
arriving in the 17th century belonged to a variety of
subgroups with mutually unintelligible languages and
different customs. Today in Taiwan, however, distinctions
between them have become blurred as a result of
extensive intermarriage and the universal use of Mandarin.
Taiwan has been a melting pot not only of diverse Han
subgroups, but also of indigenous Malayo-Polynesian
peoples and immigrants from all over the world. Recent
years, for example, have seen an influx of new arrivals
from mainland China and Southeast Asia, mostly through
cross-cultural marriages. Currently, the number of new
immigrants is over 520,000.
There is growing appreciation in Taiwan for the cultural
legacies of the 16 officially recognized Austronesian-
speaking subgroups, which constitute a little more than
2 percent of the population. Both public and private
organizations are making efforts to revitalize their
languages and cultures, as illustrated by the launch of
Taiwan Indigenous Television and the passage of the
Indigenous Peoples Basic Act.
This convergence and interplay of currents of humanity
in Taiwan have helped transform it into an open-hearted,
forward-looking society that has incorporated diverse
elements of civilization from around the world in a
distinctive and harmonious manner.
Public
Safety
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Living
at Ease
• Adopt stricter food safety regulations that conform to international standards, such as ISO 22000 and the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points
• Establish a comprehensive tracking system for agricultural products
• Improve agricultural and food processing procedures
• Organize or build 200,000 social housing rental units within eight years
• Ensure that new social housing units are suitable for elderly and disabled citizens
• Promote the renovation of existing homes and communities to improve accessibility for elderly residents
• Prioritize anti-drug and anti-fraud programs, as well as promote women and children’s safety
• Combat organized crime and the illegal use of firearms
• Build transnational information exchange mechanisms to aid law enforcement authorities at home and abroad
Food
Safety
• Organize national affairs conferences to discuss major pension systems
• Satisfy two primary requirements: namely that the basic needs of all elderly citizens are met and that pension schemes maintain a balance between income and expenditures
• Adhere to the following strategies: enact changes incrementally, streamline overly complex systems, appropriately raise the age of pension eligibility and gradually move toward a reasonable income replacement ratio
3-in-1
Community
Care
PresidentTsai Ing-wen’s
Five SocialStability Pledges
Sustainable
Pensions
• Promote child care services in public and nonprofit facilities
• Advance community-based long-term care services for the elderly and disabled
• Create employment opportunities and promote local economies through the development of care and medical services
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HISTORY
DO YOU KNOW?
The ROC was founded in 1912 in mainland
China. At that time, Taiwan was under
Japanese colonial rule as a result of the
1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki, by which
the Qing ceded Taiwan to Japan. The
ROC government began exercising
jurisdiction over Taiwan in 1945 after Japan
surrendered at the end of World War II.
Tainan Confucius Temple in southern Taiwan’s Tainan City dates back to 1665. (Chen Mei-ling)
• Dutch and Spanish settlers established bases in Taiwan in the early 17th century.
• Around 1.2 million people relocated from mainland China to Taiwan along with the ROC government in the late 1940s.
14
1716
1662 Fleeing the Manchurian conquest of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Ming loyalists under Zheng Cheng-gong (Koxinga) drive out the Dutch from Taiwan and establish authority over the island.
1683 Qing dynasty (1644-1912) forces take control of Taiwan’s western and northern coastal areas.
1885 Taiwan is declared a province of the Qing Empire.
1895 Following defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), the Qing government signs the Treaty of Shimonoseki, by which it cedes sovereignty over Taiwan to Japan, which rules the island until 1945.
1911~1912
Chinese revolutionaries overthrow the Qing Empire and establish the Republic of China.
1943 During World War II, ROC leader Chiang Kai-shek meets with US President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Cairo. After the conclusion of the conference, the Cairo Declaration is released, stating that ‟…Formosa [Taiwan], and the Pescadores [the Penghu Islands], shall be restored to the Republic of China…”
The ROC government relocated to Taiwan in 1949 while
fighting a civil war with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Since then, the ROC has continued to exercise effective
jurisdiction over the main island of Taiwan and a number of
outlying islands, leaving Taiwan and mainland China each
under the rule of a different government. The authorities
in Beijing have never exercised sovereignty over Taiwan or
other islands currently administered by the ROC.
Historical TimelineThe following timeline focuses on Taiwan’s recorded history
dating from about 400 years ago, although it has been
home to Malayo-Polynesian peoples for many millennia.
1500s It is commonly believed that European sailors passing Taiwan record the island’s name as Ilha Formosa (beautiful island).Taiwan continues to experience visits by small numbers of mainland Chinese merchants, fishermen and pirates.
1624 The Dutch East India Company establishes a base in southwestern Taiwan, employing mainland Chinese laborers to work on its rice and sugarcane plantations.
1626 Spanish adventurers establish bases in northern Taiwan, but are ousted by the Dutch in 1642.
1918
1949 The ROC government relocates to Taipei, followed by 1.2 million people from mainland China.October 25 sees the Battle of Kuningtou on Kinmen Island, in which the ROC armed forces defeat the communists on the northwestern coast of Kinmen Island.Martial law is declared in Taiwan and continues to be in force until 1987.
1952 The Treaty of Peace is signed between the ROC and Japan at the Taipei Guest House, formally ending the state of war between the two parties. It is recognized that under Article 2 of the 1951 San Francisco Treaty, Japan has renounced all rights, titles and claims to Taiwan (Formosa) and Penghu (the Pescadores) as well as the Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands. All treaties, conventions and agreements concluded before December 9, 1941, between China and Japan have become null and void as a consequence of the war.
1954 The ROC-US Mutual Defense Treaty is signed in Washington, D.C.
1958 August 23 sees the start of an artillery duel between the ROC garrison on the Kinmen Islands and mainland Chinese forces that lasts more than 40 days.
1945 The ROC, United Kingdom and United States jointly issue the Potsdam Declaration, calling for Japan’s unconditional surrender and the carrying-out of the Cairo Declaration.After World War II, ROC government representatives accept the surrender of Japanese forces in Taiwan. The Chief Executive of Taiwan Province Chen Yi sends a memorandum to the Japanese governor-general of Taiwan, stating that ‟As the Chief Executive of Taiwan Province of the ROC, …I restore all legal territory, people, administration, political, economic, and cultural facilities and assets of Taiwan (including the Penghu Islands).”
1947 The ROC Constitution is promulgated on January 1 and is scheduled to take effect on December 25. In March and the following months, ROC troops dispatched from the mainland suppress a large-scale uprising of Taiwan residents sparked by the February 28 Incident.
1948 As full-scale civil war rages on the mainland between the Kuomintang (KMT)-led ROC government and CCP, the Temporary Provisions Effective During the Period of National Mobilization for Suppression of the Communist Rebellion are enacted, overriding the ROC Constitution and greatly expanding presidential powers.
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The ROC becomes a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.
1992 Government-authorized representatives from across the Taiwan Strait meet for the first time in Hong Kong, and via subsequent communication and negotiations arrive at various joint acknowledgements and understandings.
1995 The National Health Insurance program begins.
1996 The ROC holds its first-ever direct presidential election, with the KMT's Lee Teng-hui and running mate Lien Chan garnering 54 percent of the vote.
2000 Chen Shui-bian and Annette Hsiu-lien Lu of the DPP are elected president and vice president, ending the KMT’s more than 50-year rule and marking the first transfer of ROC government executive power in Taiwan between political parties.
2002 The ROC becomes a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
2003 The Legislative Yuan passes the Referendum Act, providing a legal basis for ROC citizens to vote directly on issues of local or national importance.
2004 The first national referendum is held in conjunction with the third direct presidential election, in which Chen and Lu are re-elected with a slight majority.
1966 The first Export Processing Zone is established in Kaohsiung. The creation of such zones propels Taiwan toward becoming a developed nation, setting a paradigm for other countries to follow.
1968 The nine-year compulsory education system is launched at a time when fewer than nine countries globally have compulsory education systems of this length or more.
1971 The ROC withdraws from the United Nations.
1979 Democracy activists demonstrating in the southern city of Kaohsiung are arrested and imprisoned following what is known as the Kaohsiung Incident, which eventually leads to the formation and development of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 1986.
1987 Martial law, in effect since 1949, ends and bans on the formation of new political parties and news publications are lifted. Democratization goes into high gear.Cross-strait people-to-people exchanges begin.
1991 The Temporary Provisions Effective During the Period of National Mobilization for Suppression of the Communist Rebellion are abolished. From this year through 2005, the ROC Constitution undergoes seven rounds of revision.
2322
2013 The ROC signs an agreement on economic cooperation with New Zealand and an agreement on economic partnership with Singapore.The ROC attends the 38th session of the International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly as the guest of the council's president.
2014 ROC Mainland Affairs Council Minister Wang Yu-chi holds a formal meeting with mainland China's Taiwan Affairs Office director Zhang Zhijun in Nanjing in February, marking the first official contact between the heads of the respective government agencies responsible for cross-strait relations.A record 11,130 candidates are elected nationwide for nine categories of local government representatives in what are known as the ‟nine-in-one” local elections.
2015 ROC President Ma Ying-jeou and mainland Chinese leader Xi Jinping meet in Singapore in November, marking the first top-level meeting between the two sides in 66 years.Taiwan signs WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement and submits its instrument of acceptance to the organization.
2016 DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen and academic Chen Chien-jen are elected president and vice president of the ROC.The DPP gains its first legislative majority after securing 68 of the 113 seats.
2005 The Legislative Yuan passes a constitutional
amendment package, halving the number of its
seats from 225 to 113 and introducing the single-
district, two-votes system for legislative elections.
2008 Ma Ying-jeou and Vincent C. Siew of the KMT are
elected president and vice president of the ROC,
garnering 58 percent of the vote and marking the
second transfer of ROC government executive
power in Taiwan between political parties.
2009 The ROC attends the World Health Assembly as an
observer, marking its first participation in an activity
of the United Nations since its withdrawal in 1971.
President Ma Ying-jeou signs the instruments of
ratification of the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights and the International Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
2010 The ROC inks the Cross-Straits Economic
Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) with
mainland China to institutionalize economic and
trade relations across the Taiwan Strait.
2011 The centennial of the ROC is celebrated in Taiwan.
2012 Incumbent Ma Ying-jeou and his new running
mate Wu Den-yih, representing the KMT, win the
election for president and vice president with 51.6
percent of the vote.
2524
DO YOU KNOW?• The ROC president and vice president
are directly elected every four years.• In the ROC’s legislative elections,
each voter casts one ballot for their district and another for at-large seats.
The ROC Constitution, promulgated on
January 1, 1947, did not begin to serve
its intended purpose as the foundation
for democratic governance and rule
of law until after 1987, when martial
law was lifted in Taiwan. Since then,
President Tsai Ing-wen, center, Premier Lin Chuan, left, and President of the Legislative Yuan Su Jia-chyuan wave to crowds during National Day celebrations Oct. 10, 2016. (Courtesy of Office of the President)
POLITICAL SYSTEM
2726
Special municipalities are top-level administrative
entities that fall under the direct jurisdiction of the
central government. The status carries with it access to
greater funding and the opportunity to set up additional
agencies and employ more civil servants. The six special
municipalities are, in order of population, New Taipei,
Kaohsiung, Taichung, Taipei, Taoyuan and Tainan cities.
Presidency and PremiershipThe president and vice president are directly elected, serve
terms of four years and may be re-elected for one additional
term. The president is head of state and commander-
in-chief of the armed forces, represents the nation in
foreign relations, and is empowered to appoint heads of
four branches of the government, including the premier,
who leads the Executive Yuan (Cabinet) and must report
regularly to the Legislative Yuan (Legislature). The heads of
ministries, commissions and agencies under the Executive
Yuan are appointed by the premier and form the Executive
Yuan Council. To improve administrative effectiveness, the
Executive Yuan is undergoing restructuring to reduce the
number of Cabinet-level organizations from 37 to 29.
After the reorganization, which commenced at the
start of 2012, the Executive Yuan will consist of 14
ministries, eight councils, three independent agencies
and four other organizations. Under the ROC
Constitution, neither the president’s appointment
it has undergone seven rounds of revision—in 1991, 1992,
1994, 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2005—in order to make it more
relevant to the country’s current condition.
One of the important consequences of these amendments
is that since 1991, the ROC government has acknowledged
that its jurisdiction extends only to the areas it controls. The
ROC president and legislators, therefore, are elected by
and accountable to the people of those areas only.
In accordance with constitutional amendments
promulgated in June 2005, the number of seats in the
Legislative Yuan was halved from 225 to 113 and legislators’
terms were increased from three to four years. Under the
new legislative election system, each electoral district
elects just one seat. Each voter casts two ballots––one for
the district and the other for at-large seats. The power to
ratify constitutional amendments is now exercised by ROC
citizens through referendums.
Levels of GovernmentThe national government comprises the presidency and five
major branches, or yuans. The local governments at present
include those of six special municipalities, 13 counties and three
autonomous municipalities with the same hierarchical status
as counties. Beginning in 2014, all heads and representatives
of local governments are popularly elected simultaneously in
cities and counties across Taiwan every four years.
2928
President Tsai Ing-wen’s
FIVE MAJOR POLITICAL REFORMS
Generational Justice• Aid young people in finding employment opportunities and
starting new businesses• Help alleviate the burdens that housing and care for family
members place on young families• Promote pension reform, remove red tape and shore up fiscal
policy for the benefit of current and future generations
Government Institutions• Improve communication with citizens regarding the motivations
behind government policies as well as their intended effects• Make information in the government’s possession available to
opposition parties• Establish ‟one-stop” service windows on pressing issues and review
outmoded personnel and organizational structures
The Legislature• Promote constitutional reform that will allow the will of the people
to be better reflected within the Legislature; lower the threshold for parties to win legislative seats
• Ensure that the system guarantees a neutral legislative speaker• Bolster legislative staffing agencies’ research capabilities as well as
their professionalism and nonpartisanship
Transitional Justice• Offer an official apology on behalf of the government for the
oppression and exploitation suffered by indigenous peoples• Restore historical truth about past administrations’ use of violence
and coercion• Work to guarantee that no political party can benefit from
inappropriately acquired assets
An End to Partisanship• Put a stop to social antagonism and the malicious fighting
between political parties• Bring together those who support progressive ideas to create
a reform alliance• Foster internal solidarity so that the world will observe
a united Taiwan
of the premier nor the premier’s appointment of
ministers is subject to legislative confirmation.
Presidential appointment of the members of the Control
Yuan and the Examination Yuan, as well as justices of
the Judicial Yuan, must be confirmed by the Legislature.
Lawmakers elect the president of the Legislature, or
speaker, from among their ranks.
Political PartiesGiven the key role of the presidency in the overall
functioning of the ROC government, the term ‟ruling party” denotes which political party occupies the Office of the
President. The Kuomintang (KMT) held the presidency in
Taiwan for more than five decades before the Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP) won the 2000 and 2004 presidential
elections. The KMT regained power by winning the
presidential race in 2008 and again in 2012. The DPP won
the 2016 presidential election, marking the third transition
of power since the country’s democratization.
In the January 2016 legislative elections, the DPP gained
60 percent of the seats in the Legislature, while the KMT
secured 31 percent. Other major parties that have a
presence in the Legislature include the New Power Party
and the People First Party.
3130
LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONS
Keelung City
Yilan County
Hualien County
Nantou County
Yunlin County
Chiayi City Chiayi County
Taipei City(capital city)
Taitung County
Formulates and implements policies
Manages the civil service system
Oversees the nation’s court system
Impeaches and censures officials, audits government agencies
Reviews and enacts legislation, conducts hearings on policy matters, examines budgetary bills and government operations
FIVE BRANCHES OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
Kinmen County
Lienchiang County
Changhua County
Tainan City
Kaohsiung City
Pingtung County
Taichung City
Miaoli CountyHsinchu CityHsinchu County
New Taipei CityTaoyuan City
Penghu County
Special municipalities
Autonomous municipalities Counties
Executive Yuan
Examination Yuan
Judicial Yuan
Control Yuan
Legislative Yuan
3332
The ROC is a sovereign and independent
state that maintains its own national
defense and conducts its own foreign
affairs. As enshrined in the ROC
Constitution, the country aims to
‟cultivate good-neighborliness with
President Tsai Ing-wen, left, and Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales greet the media during her state visit to the ROC diplomatic ally in January 2017. (Courtesy of Office of the President)
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
• More than 160 countries and territories accord visa-free, landing visa or e-visa privileges to ROC passport holders.
• Taiwan is the only nation included in the US Visa Waiver Program that does not maintain official diplomatic relations with the United States.
DO YOU KNOW?
32
3534
engage with the international community pragmatically
and professionally to contribute wherever possible. It will
also seek support for its participation in United Nations
specialized agencies and mechanisms focused on welfare
and development such as the WHO, International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO) and United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The United States,
European nations and other countries have voiced support for
Taiwan’s participation in United Nations specialized agencies
and mechanisms such as ICAO and UNFCCC.
A panel of international experts was invited to conduct
a review of the second report on the implementation of
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights in Taiwan January 16-20, 2017. The experts
offered 78 opinions and recommendations with regard to
the development of human rights over the past four years.
International media representatives were also invited to
attend and report on this process.
As of December 13, 2016, 165 countries and territories have
accorded visa-free, landing visa or e-visa privileges to ROC
passport holders. Taiwan has also inked working holiday
agreements with 15 countries.
Notably, among the 38 countries included in the US Visa
Waiver Program, Taiwan is the only one that does not
other nations, and respect treaties and the Charter of the
United Nations … promote international cooperation,
protect international justice and ensure world peace.” The
ultimate goal of the country’s foreign policy is to ensure
a favorable environment for the nation’s preservation and
long-term development.
The ROC has diplomatic relations with 20 countries and
substantive ties with many others. From January 7-15, 2017,
President Tsai Ing-wen visited four ROC diplomatic allies
in Central America: Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and
El Salvador. During this trip, she attended the inauguration
ceremony of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and held
bilateral talks with the heads of state of these countries.
The ROC has full membership in 37 intergovernmental
organizations (IGO) and their subsidiary bodies, including
the World Trade Organization, Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation, Asian Development Bank and Central
American Bank for Economic Integration. It also enjoys
observer or other statuses in 21 IGOs and their subsidiary
bodies, including the Inter-American Development Bank,
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
and committees of the Organisation for Economic Co-
operation and Development.
The ROC will, while upholding national sovereignty
and dignity and advancing the welfare of the people,
3736
European countries are stable and close. The EU is Taiwan’s
fifth-largest trading partner and largest source of foreign
direct investment, with accumulated investment reaching
US$41.3 billion as of January 2017.
On April 10, 2013, Taiwan signed a fisheries agreement with
Japan after 17 rounds of negotiations since 1996, expanding
the fishing grounds of Taiwan vessels in waters surrounding
the Diaoyutai Islands in the East China Sea. In November
2015, Taiwan and the Philippines concluded the Agreement
Concerning the Facilitation of Cooperation on Law
Enforcement in Fisheries Matters to safeguard the security of
fishermen from both sides.
In July 2016, the Tribunal of the South China Sea Arbitration
initiated by the Philippines rendered an award unilaterally
declaring Taiping Island a rock that does not generate an
exclusive economic zone. Taiping Island is part of the integral
territory of the ROC and was not originally included in the
Philippines’ submissions for arbitration. However, the tribunal
took it upon itself to expand its jurisdiction to cover the
legal status of Taiping Island. Taiping, the largest naturally
formed island in the Nansha (Spratly) Islands and the only
one that has fresh water, can sustain human habitation and
an economic life of its own. This is indisputable. The arbitral
tribunal did not formally invite the ROC to participate in its
proceedings, nor did it solicit the ROC’s views. Therefore, the
award has no legally binding force on the ROC. The ROC still
maintain official diplomatic relations with the United States,
highlighting the otherwise close relationship between the
two sides. The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), passed by the
US Congress in 1979, has continued to provide a strong
foundation for Taiwan-US cooperation in the absence of
formal diplomatic ties. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
reaffirmed the importance of the TRA by stating the US
commitment to Taiwan is both a legal commitment and
moral imperative in his confirmation hearing before the
US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in January
2017. Secretary Tillerson also reiterated that the US has
commitments to Taiwan under the TRA and Six Assurances
in response to US Sen. Marco Rubio’s written question.
The ROC and the Holy See enjoy long-standing diplomatic
relations and possess a shared commitment to religious
freedom and humanitarian relief. Acting in line with the
universal values of peace, freedom, democracy and
respect for human rights, Taiwan will continue to be an
indispensable partner to the Holy See and other countries
in their efforts to promote love, charity and world peace.
Likewise, sharing common values such as democracy,
freedom and the rule of law, Taiwan and the European
Union (EU), together with other European countries, have
expanded cooperation and exchanges across numerous
fields such as economics, technology and culture. For
instance, economic and trade ties between Taiwan and
3938
As a model citizen in global society, Taiwan will continue
to promote humanitarian aid and disease control while
actively participating in international efforts to tackle
climate change, terrorism and transnational crime.
Going forward, the nation will build lasting partnerships
with allied and like-minded countries through fostering
governmental interactions, business investment and
people-to-people exchanges, and work with its partners
around the world to uphold and promote the universal
values of peace, freedom, democracy and human rights.
maintains full rights associated with territorial waters,
a contiguous zone, an exclusive economic zone and a
continental shelf in accordance with the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea. The ROC is willing
to work with all states concerned to advance peace and
stability in the region through multilateral negotiations
conducted on the basis of equality.
Under President Tsai’s New Southbound Policy, Taiwan
is striving to broaden exchanges and cooperation with
the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member
states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New
Zealand in economic and trade cooperation, talent
cultivation, resource sharing and regional links. The
long-term goal is to create a new type of cooperation
based on mutual benefits.
The ROC government is committed to its approach
of steadfast diplomacy, which aims to advance mutual
assistance for mutual benefits. The policy is also defined
as firm in purpose and is targeted at building robust
relationships with diplomatic allies and countries that
share the common values of freedom and democracy.
Under this approach, the focus of ROC diplomatic work
is shifting from the one-way provision of foreign aid to
two-way dialogue, with bilateral cooperation projects
taking into consideration the development of both
industries and markets.
4140
DO YOU KNOW?
Since the ROC government relocated
to Taiwan in 1949, it has exercised
jurisdiction over Taiwan proper,
Penghu Islands, Kinmen Islands,
Matsu Islands and a number of smaller
islands, while mainland China has been
A passenger aircraft from mainland China at Taipei Songshan Airport. Direct cross-strait flights were launched in 2008. (Huang Chung-hsin)
CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS
• In December 1987, Taiwan lifted the ban on travel to mainland China for those with close relatives there.
• The full relaxation of restrictions on Taiwan travelers visiting mainland China came into effect in December 2008 with the opening of direct flights.
4342
under the control of the authorities in Beijing. Beginning
with the acceleration of Taiwan’s democratization in the
late 1980s, many restrictions concerning civil exchanges
with mainland China have been lifted. Today, Taiwan is one
of the biggest investors in mainland China. In 2016, the
value of cross-strait bilateral trade was US$117.9 billion. In
that year, travelers from mainland China made more than
3.5 million visits to Taiwan, up from 329,204 in 2008.
In June 2008, institutionalized talks between Taiwan’s semi-
official Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and mainland
China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits
(ARATS) resumed after a 10-year hiatus. By August 2015,
11 rounds of negotiations had been held alternately on
either side of the strait, producing 23 formal agreements
and two consensuses. Most significant among the accords
is the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework
Agreement (ECFA) concluded in June 2010, which aims
to institutionalize trade and economic relations between
Taiwan and mainland China.
In order to promote thorough domestic reforms, the
country requires a peaceful, stable external environment,
especially with regard to relations with mainland China.
President Tsai Ing-wen, since taking office in May 2016, has
worked to build a consistent, predictable and sustainable
cross-strait relationship based on existing realities and
political foundations.Source: Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance
CROSS-STRAIT TRADE
Unit: US$ million
4,541.8
5,028.8
7,131
10,620.8
10,991.1
18,731.3
34,305.5
53,614.3
64,217.9
133,992.4
127,467.7
124,097.6
129,339.2
118,675.6
117,869.7
114,204.7
77,286.1
79,397.4
99,095.5
91,149.6
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
2002
2004
2005
2007
2009
2003
2014
2012
2010
2011
2013
2016
2015
2008
2006
Exports
Imports
Total
4544
2016
VISITORS FROM MAINLAND CHINA TO TAIWAN
2007
Source: National Immigration Agency, Ministry of the Interior
0
Unit: Millions
Tourists
3,472,673 visits
4
3
2
1
strait peace and the welfare of people on both sides.
Both sides of the strait should jointly display wisdom and
flexibility and, with a calm attitude, bring together a divided
present toward a win-win future.
Business travelers
Other
In 1992, the two institutions representing each
side of the strait, the SEF and ARATS, through
communication and negotiations, arrived at various
joint acknowledgements and understandings. This was
done in a spirit of mutual understanding and a political
attitude of seeking common ground while setting
aside differences. The ROC government respects this
historical fact. Since 1992, over 20 years of interactions
and negotiations across the strait have enabled and
accumulated outcomes that both sides must collectively
cherish and sustain; and it is based on such existing
realities and political foundations that the stable and
peaceful development of the cross-strait relationship
must be continuously promoted.
The ROC government will continue to address cross-
strait ties based on the historical fact of the 1992 talks,
the ROC Constitution, the Act Governing Relations
Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the
Mainland Area, and the will of the Taiwan people.
In addition, the ROC government calls upon the
authorities of mainland China to face up to the reality
that the ROC exists and that the people of Taiwan have
an unshakable faith in the democratic system. The two
sides of the strait should sit down and talk as soon as
possible. Anything can be included for discussion, as
long as it is conducive to the development of cross-
4746
Taiwan occupies an important
position in the global economy.
It is a top player in the world’s
information and communication
technology (ICT) industry, as well as
a major supplier of goods across the
industrial spectrum.
Taiwan is implementing a New Model for Economic Development that seeks to foster innovation-based growth. (Chen Mei-ling)
ECONOMY
• Taiwan was the world’s 18th largest exporter of merchandise in 2016.
• The nation signed free trade deals with New Zealand and Singapore in 2013.
DO YOU KNOW?
46
4948
In July 2013, Taiwan signed the Agreement between New
Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan,
Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu on Economic Cooperation
(ANZTEC). This high-quality economic cooperation pact
is Taiwan’s first with a member of the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development. In November the
same year, a similar pact, the Agreement between Singapore
and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu,
Kinmen and Matsu on Economic Partnership (ASTEP), was
signed between Taiwan and Singapore. It is Taiwan’s first
such accord with a trading partner in Southeast Asia. Both
ANZTEC and ASTEP go beyond WTO requirements.
According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Taiwan
was the 18th largest exporter and 18th largest importer of
merchandise in 2016. It was also the fifth largest holder of
foreign exchange reserves as of March 2017. Taiwan’s gross
domestic product (GDP) per capita reached US$22,530
in 2016. In terms of nominal GDP, Taiwan ranks close to
Argentina and Sweden, while Taiwan’s GDP per capita
expressed as purchasing power parity is similar to that of
Austria and Denmark.
After weathering the global financial crisis of 2009, Taiwan’s
export-oriented economy took another hit in 2015, mainly
due to the weak demand for global consumer electronics
products, coupled with the falling price of crude oil.
Taiwan’s economy grew only 0.72 percent and its overall
trade volume decreased by 13.2 percent in 2015. The
situation has since improved, and statistics indicate that in
2016 Taiwan’s overall exports and imports decreased 1.8
percent and 2.8 percent, respectively, while its economy
expanded 1.5 percent, higher than in 2015.
Authoritative annual surveys of the world’s economies,
including those conducted by the World Economic Forum,
Business Environment Risk Intelligence and the Economist
Intelligence Unit, have ranked Taiwan among the top
nations year after year with respect to long-term growth
and technological development. Results announced in 2016
were no exception (see table ‟Global Survey Rankings”). Source: Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics
3.0%
4.0%
1.0%
0%
2.0%
2.23%
2013 2014 2015 2016
ECONOMIC GROWTH RATES
(2016)
1.5%
5150
Taiwan has also completed research with Indonesia
and India on the feasibility of an economic cooperation
agreement (ECA), with the results released in Jakarta in
December 2012 and in New Delhi in September 2013,
respectively. Developments such as ANZTEC, ASTEP
and the ECAs are expected to facilitate the country’s
participation in such regional economic integration blocks
as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional
Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Since May 2016, Taiwan has adopted a New Model for
Economic Development that seeks to boost the nation’s
Nominal: US$529 billion (22nd in the world)
Per capita (nominal): US$22,530 (34th in the world)
PPP per capita (by IMF): US$48,094 (21st in the world)
Industry 35 %
Agriculture 1.8 %
Services 63.2 %
GDP SNAPSHOT (2016)
GDP
growth by promoting innovation, increasing employment
and ensuring the equitable distribution of economic
benefits. Under this model, Taiwan is striving to strengthen
its global and regional connections through initiatives such
as the New Southbound Policy, which aims to diversify
the nation’s international markets by expanding links with
members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN), as well as South Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Taiwan will continue monitoring the development of regional
economic integration and seek all possible opportunities to
participate in it.
In order to enhance the nation’s global competitiveness,
the New Model for Economic Development prioritizes
the promotion of the five-plus-two innovative industries
initiative, which targets the five emerging and high-growth
sectors of biotech and pharmaceuticals, green energy,
national defense, smart machinery and Internet of Things, as
well as focuses on promotion of two core concepts: circular
economy and a new paradigm for agricultural development.
It also centers on the development of the Asian Silicon
Valley in northern Taiwan’s Taoyuan City.
To fulfill the needs of national development over the
next 30 years, the government is promoting the Forward-
looking Infrastructure Program to drive overall economic
growth. The program contains eight major elements: railway
development, digital infrastructure, aquatic environment,
5352
Registered inward investment: US$11.2 billion
• Top five destinations
US$1.5 billion Singapore
US$800 million The Netherlands
US$2.7 billion British territories in the Caribbean
US$9.18 billion mainland China
US$4.5 billion Japan
• Top five sources
Japan US$346.4 million
The NetherlandsUS$6.7 billion
British territories in the CaribbeanUS$1.54 billion
United KingdomUS$407.6 million
Hong KongUS$596 million
Registered outward investment: US$21.3 billion
Total trade volume: US$510.8 billion
Trade balance: US$49.8 billion surplus
United States 12.4 %
Japan 17.6 %
ASEAN 11.7%
European Union 10.6 %
ASEAN 18.5 %
mainland China (including Hong Kong) 40 %
mainland China (including Hong Kong) 19.6 %
Others
Others
United States 11.9 %
European Union 8.7 %
Japan 6.9 %
Top export destinations:
Top import sources:
(fifth in the world as of March 2017)
Foreign exchange reserves: US$437.5 billion
TRADE AND INVESTMENT PROFILE (2016)
Exports: US$280.3 billion
Imports: US$230.5 billion
5554
to cultivate innovative industries, the ROC government is
committed to protecting the environment. With this in mind,
the new economic model seeks to fully integrate industrial
restructuring, national land-use planning and regional
growth strategies to foster sustainable development while
promoting the use of green energy resources.
GLOBAL SURVEY RANKINGS
Topic of Survey (Date of Publication) Rank Countries Surveyed Surveying Institution
World Competitiveness Scoreboard (May 2017) 14 63 International Institute for Management Development
Investment climate (August 2016) 3 50 Business Environment Risk Intelligence
Networked Readiness Index 2016 (July 2016) 19 139 World Economic Forum
Index of Economic Freedom (February 2017) 11 180 Heritage Foundation & The Wall Street Journal
Legatum Prosperity Index (November 2015) 21 142 Legatum Institute
Ease of Doing Business (October 2016) 11 190 World Bank
Global Competitiveness Index 2016-2017 (September 2016) 14 138 World Economic Forum
food safety, green energy, urban-rural development,
boosting birth rates and childcare facilities, and nurturing
talent and employment.
Under this approach, the ROC government aims to boost
wage levels and foster regional development. As it works
5756
DO YOU KNOW?• Taiwan is one of the world’s
leading producers of information and communication technology products.
• World Economic Forum ranks Taiwan 14th out of 138 economies in its most recent Global Competitiveness Report in September 2016.
In April 2014, the National Science
Council—the government’s dedicated
agency charged with advancing national
science and technology development,
supporting academic research and
promoting the nation’s three science
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
An unmanned aerial vehicle developed by National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology in northern Taiwan’s Taoyuan City (Huang Chung-hsin)56
5958
the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), the
National Applied Research Laboratories and the Institute
for Information Industry (III) all played important roles in
jumpstarting the nation’s rise as a technological powerhouse
by conducting research, aiding the private sector with R&D
and exploring new technologies.
The ITRI has been instrumental in establishing several
companies that have gone on to command prominent
positions in the global marketplace, including Taiwan
Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and United
Microelectronics Corp., which are among the world’s
top custom integrated circuit chipmakers. The institute’s
innovative prowess is best illustrated by the fact that in the
past nine years it has won a total of 27 R&D 100 Awards,
highly prestigious honors given out by US-based R&D
Magazine. Most of these award-winning technologies have
been licensed to ITRI’s partners, including Taiwan Cement
Corp. and WiseChip Semiconductor Inc.
The III strives to boost Taiwan’s global competitiveness by
developing the country’s information and communication
technology (ICT) infrastructure, and plays a key role in
promoting ICT in both the public and private sectors.
To that end, the III serves as a think tank on ICT policy,
conducts extensive research and has trained over 460,000
ICT-related professionals during the past three decades.
parks—was reorganized and renamed as the Ministry of
Science and Technology (MOST). While continuing its
predecessor’s innovative measures and programs, the
MOST, with a new organizational structure, aims to focus
academic research on the needs of industry as Taiwan
relies on science and technology innovations as a key
driver of economic growth and national progress.
The success of Taiwan’s high-tech enterprises is largely
attributable to the government’s generous funding for
applied scientific development. With government support,
TURNOVER OF FIRMS IN TAIWAN’S THREE MAJOR SCIENCE PARKS (2016)
Central Taiwan Science Park US$16.7 billion
Southern Taiwan Science Park US$27.3 billion
Hsinchu Science Park US$34.2 billion
43.7%
34.9 % 21.4%
Source: Ministry of Science and Technology
6160
The III is also dedicated to promoting Taiwan tech startups
by organizing a contest for them called IDEAS Show since
2008. This has led to five international mergers and winning
contestants attracting investment of NT$8.2 billion (US$270
million). In 2016, the IDEAS Show started to build stronger
connections with the world as it became an Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) event attracting participants
from 15 nations. This year, the IDEAS Show @APEC
Innovation is taking place July 17-18 in Taipei with a focus on
creating a better entrepreneurial ecosystem for the digital
economy in the future.
After years of dedication by the public and private sectors
toward developing technological expertise, Taiwan’s
science parks are now home to clusters of companies
pursuing breakthroughs in fields such as integrated circuits,
nanotechnology, optoelectronics and precision machinery.
According to the Global Competitiveness Report 2016-2017
released by World Economic Forum, Taiwan ranked 30th
among the 138 economies surveyed in the technological
readiness category and 11th in the innovation category.
Furthermore, among 61 top economies surveyed in the 2016
World Competitiveness Yearbook, in terms of technological
infrastructure and scientific infrastructure, Taiwan ranked
12th and 10th, respectively.
No. 1 Worldwide
CategoryProduction
Value QuantityGlobal Share
(US$ million) (%)
Custom IC fabrication 30,272 67.27
IC testing & packaging 12,253 48
Fiberglass cloth 629 32
Chlorella 841 tons 49.4
Functional fabrics 4,266 27.25
High-end bicycles 3,764,900 47
Personal navigation devices 1,227 54.7
No. 2 Worldwide
IC substrates 2,745 24
Electro-deposited copper foil 962 21.8
IC design 16,724 19.9
Silicon-based solar cells
8,549 MW 15.9
Assistive devices (electric scooters and wheelchairs)
164,000 units 23.1
Printed circuit boards 7,801 13.1
Ball screws 356 15.1
Source: Industry & Technology Intelligence Services Project, Ministry of Economic Affairs
PRODUCTION VALUE & GLOBAL SHARE OF TAIWAN-MADE PRODUCTS & SERVICES (2015)
6362
National Defense Industry• Provide support to the information security
industry cluster in northern Taiwan’s Taipei, the aviation industry in central Taiwan’s Taichung and the shipbuilding industry in southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung
• Make defense-related purchases that have social and economic benefits in areas such as employment, technological innovation and local business development
• Promote defense-related technologies with applications in the military and civilian sectors
• Allow the circulation and reutilization of energy, improving resource efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and ensuring the waste energy and materials of a factory become the input resources of a neighboring one
• Ensure new industrial parks are designed according to the concept of the circular economy
Asian Silicon Valley• Develop Taoyuan City into a smart technologies
research and development hub
• Foster the growth of firms involved in producing Internet of Things technologies
• Enhance ties between local businesses and companies in California’s Silicon Valley with a focus on technology, capital and talent
• Build an innovation and research talent exchange center near Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport that will maintain close ties with similar facilities in Silicon Valley
Circular Economy
New Agriculture • Protect farmers, foster agricultural development
and ensure environmental sustainability
• Safeguard product safety and quality and build a trustworthy label certification system consistent with international standards
• Make the industry profitable and sustainable, diversify domestic and external sales channels and increase the added value of agricultural industries
Green Technology Industry• Build a sustainable energy technology park in Tainan City’s Shalun area
• Facilitate energy saving through coordination among equipment suppliers, ICT businesses and energy service providers
Smart Machinery Industry
• Boost the development of the machine tools and smart machinery industries in and around Taichung City by providing assistance in areas such as talent recruitment, research and development, land acquisition and marketing
• Spur innovation so sectors such as aviation, submarines, precision medicine and the Internet of Things can benefit from advances in smart machinery technology
• Promote electricity generation from a wide variety of renewable sources, including solar, wind, geothermal, biofuel, wave and tidal
• Cultivate efficient energy storage through the promotion of lithium battery, fuel cell and hydrogen power use by local companies
• Help foster the creation of local businesses specializing in green energy system integration
FIVE-PLUS-TWO INNOVATIVE INDUSTRIES INITIATIVEPresident Tsai Ing-wen’s
Biotech and Pharmaceutical lndustry• Bolster the research and development capabilities
of firms in Taipei’s Nangang Software Park, Hsinchu Biomedical Science Park, Central Taiwan Science Park and Southern Taiwan Science Park, all connected via the high-speed railway system
• Utilize Taiwan’s grasp of genetic structures, lifestyles and living environments in East Asia to boost the nation’s position in the world’s biomedical value chains
• Enhance cooperative efforts with the three major US biomedical hubs of Boston, San Diego and the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as with European countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland
6564
Education is an important component
of ROC government policymaking and
accounts for a large portion of the budget.
With an increasing emphasis on the
importance of attaining tertiary education,
those with at least a technical college or
university degree account for 44 percent
of Taiwan’s population aged 15 and
above, an 11 percentage points increase
A group of elementary school students visits Taitung Art Museum in southeastern Taiwan’s Taitung County. (Chuang Kung-ju)
EDUCATION
• Taiwan implemented a 12-year compulsory education system in 2014.
• There are 145 universities and colleges in Taiwan.
DO YOU KNOW?
64
6766
as those who wish to pursue undergraduate or graduate
degrees in diverse fields. Interested applicants may contact
the ROC’s embassies and representative offices or visit the
MOE’s website: www.edu.tw.
Literacy rate (15 or older): 98.7 percent (2016)
Government outlays for education, science and culture: 20.8 percent of central government budget (2017)
Institutions of higher learning: 158 (145 universities and colleges, 13 junior colleges)
Students enrolled in institutions of higher learning:
Total:1.31million
Doctoral programs: 28,821
Master’s programs: 169,538
(2016 academic year)
SNAPSHOT
over the past decade. To offer students a longer period
of basic learning, the Ministry of Education (MOE)
announced plans in April 2012 to extend compulsory
education in Taiwan from nine to 12 years. The new
program, designed to ensure students spend an
additional three years at academically oriented senior
high schools, vocational senior high schools or junior
colleges, was implemented in 2014.
Every year in competitions such as the International
Science Olympiad, young students from Taiwan
win distinctions in biology, chemistry, informatics,
mathematics and physics. The talent in Taiwan’s
workforce has contributed tremendously to enhancing
economic prosperity and quality of life.
In 2013, the MOE absorbed the Sports Affairs Council
as part of the government’s efforts to promote sport for
all. Taipei will host the 2017 Summer Universiade, the
biggest global sporting event ever staged in Taiwan.
A total of 54 local universities and colleges, including
those in the vocational education system, offered
229 degree programs taught in English in the 2014-
2015 academic year. Both government and university
scholarships are available for international students.
The Taiwan Scholarship Program, for instance, offers
grants to students interested in Chinese studies, as well
6968
Taiwan is renowned for its fascinating
blend of traditional and modern
culture. To showcase the nation’s
history and cultural diversity, museums
have been established across Taiwan,
including the National Palace Museum,
National Taiwan Museum and National
Glove puppet heads carved by Lin Chao-yi, one of the few remaining craftspeople producing the items by hand (Huang Chung-hsin)
CULTURE
• Taiwan is the center of the Mandarin pop music industry.
• The National Palace Museum in Taipei City contains one of the largest collections of ancient Chinese artifacts in the world.
DO YOU KNOW?
68
7170
From literary arts and folk festivals to the lively
atmosphere of night markets, Taiwan’s traditions are
closely intertwined with everyday life, adding to a
thriving culture in which the past gives vitality and depth
to the present.
National Taichung Theater in central Taiwan’s Taichung City (Huang Chung-hsin)
Museum of History. Traditional architecture abounds, not
only in the country’s magnificent temples, but also in the
many old structures that have been revitalized for use as
community centers, cafes, stores and other public spaces.
In fact, many aspects of traditional Chinese arts, crafts and
customs are better preserved in Taiwan than anywhere
else. For example, Taiwan is one of the few places that
still uses traditional Chinese characters, and calligraphy
competitions are always popular events.
Traditional tenets of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism
continue to be well represented in everything from temple
celebrations and literature to the visual and performing
arts. In addition, visitors can learn about the heritages of
the country’s Hakka, Holo and indigenous peoples. Taiwan
also shares its cultural riches throughout the world via
programs such as the Taiwan Academy resource centers.
At the same time, Taiwan’s larger cities are thriving
metropolises that offer round-the-clock entertainment
options. There are highly regarded modern dance troupes,
as well as a vibrant music scene, which is hardly surprising
as Taiwan is the world capital of Mandopop, or Mandarin
pop music. The local television and film industries have
seen a resurgence in recent years, while the country’s
booming cultural and creative sector is evident in the many
designer stores, markets and exhibitions that are growing
in number every year.
7372
• There are more than 3,000 news agencies in Taiwan.
• The nation’s digital cable TV penetration rate reached 95.84 percent in 2016.
DO YOU KNOW?
The diversity of Taiwan’s media is
reflected in the plethora of outlets
and intense competition within the
industry. The nation’s press operates in
a media environment that is one of the
freest in Asia.
Most types of media are engaged in
an industrywide transition to digital
forms of distribution.
Publishing houses in Taiwan released more than 38,000 new titles in 2016. (Chang Su-ching)
MASS MEDIA
7574
DIGITAL TV HOUSEHOLD PENETRATION RATE
95.84%
Source: National Communications Commission
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
21.03%
45.64%
78.92%
89.85%
Print editions of magazines and newspapers, including
the four major dailies, continue to lose ground to Internet
competitors. Drawing on Taiwan’s strengths in information
and communication technologies, e-publishing is injecting
fresh vitality into their development as well as that of the
local book publishing industry, which released 38,807 new
titles last year.
Terrestrial television switched from analog to digital
broadcasting at the end of June 2012. Cable television
services, available throughout all but the most mountainous
areas of Taiwan, also provide digital programming.
Radio stations: 170
Terrestrial television stations: 5
Cable television operators: 65
Satellite broadcasting program providers: 118 (302 channels)
TV and radio program production and distribution companies: 988
Audio (compact disc, etc.) production companies: 15,754
Newspaper publishers: 241
Magazine publishers: 1,238
News agencies: 3,026
SNAPSHOT
(2016 statistics)
7776
DO YOU KNOW?• Citizens of 59 countries can enter
Taiwan visa-free for 30 or 90 days.• Taiwan has a 24-hour multilingual travel
information hotline (0800-011-765).
With its unique fusion of cultures,
breathtaking scenery, diverse cuisine,
exciting city life and well-developed
hospitality industry, Taiwan is an
ideal destination for many types of
travelers. Citizens of 59 countries are
eligible for visa-exempt entry for a
period of 30 or 90 days.
VISITINGTAIWAN
A suspension bridge at Dannayiku Ecology Park in southern Taiwan’s Chiayi County (Ray Chang, Courtesy of Tourism Bureau)
7978
MAJOR FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Month Location Festival/Event*
Jan. Islandwide New Year’s Eve Celebrations
Feb. New Taipei City Pingxi International Sky Lantern Festival
Tainan City Tainan Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival
Yunlin County Taiwan Lantern Festival**
Apr. Kaohsiung City Songjiang Battle Array (folk performances)
Taichung City Mazu International Festival (religious pilgrimage)
Islandwide Hakka Tung Blossom Festival
Penghu County Penghu Ocean Fireworks Festival
May New Taipei City Fulong Sand Sculpture Art Festival
June Changhua County Lukang Dragon Boat Festival
July Taitung County Taiwan International Balloon Fiesta
New Taipei City Hohaiyan Gongliao Rock Festival
Matsu Islands Matsu Tern-watching Tour
Aug. Miaoli County Sanyi International Woodcarving Art Festival
Sept. Nantou County Sun Moon Lake International Swimming Carnival
Oct. Islandwide Taiwan Hot Spring & Fine Cuisine Carnival
Nov. Tainan City Kunshen Wangye’s Salt for Peace Festival (folk culture)
Islandwide Taiwan Cycling Festival
Taitung County Taiwan Open of Surfing
Hualien County Taroko Gorge Marathon
Dec. Chiayi City Chiayi City International Band Festival
*For more information, visit the Tourism Bureau’s website at www.taiwan.net.tw or eventaiwan.tw/en
**The Taiwan Lantern Festival is held in a different city or county each year. It will be held in Chiayi County in 2018.
In addition to about 1,100 kilometers of conventional railway
lines, Taiwan has a 348.5-kilometer high-speed rail system
along its west coast. The high-speed trains allow travel
between Taipei and Kaohsiung in 94 minutes. These two
cities are also equipped with state-of-the-art mass rapid
transit systems.
International Trade ShowsThroughout the year, the Taiwan External Trade Development
Council (TAITRA) organizes trade shows covering the entire
spectrum of industries. Major venues include Taipei World
Trade Center Exhibition Halls No. 1 and No. 3, in addition to
Nangang Exhibition Hall, and Kaohsiung Exhibition Center
in southern Taiwan.
For more details, visit www.taiwantradeshows.com.tw
General Information for VisitorsThe ROC government maintains numerous websites and
hotlines to provide foreign nationals with information about
traveling, living and working in Taiwan.
Website/Hotline Languages
Taiwan Tourism Bureauwww.taiwan.net.tw
English, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Spanish,
Thai, Vietnamese
Travel Information Hotline 0800-011-765 (24 hours) Mandarin, English, Japanese, Korean
Information for Foreignersiff.immigration.gov.tw Mandarin, English
International Community Service Hotline
0800-024-111 (24 hours)Mandarin, English, Japanese
8180
Persimmons dry in the sun in northern Taiwan’s Hsinchu County. (Huang Chung-hsin)
CurrencyNational currency: New Taiwan dollar (NT$ or TWD)
Exchange rate: NT$30.35 per US$1 (April 2017)
Time ZoneAll territories in same time zone, UTC +8 hours
(no seasonal adjustments)
Credit Cards & Travelers’ ChecksMajor credit cards are widely accepted. Travelers’ checks
can be cashed at foreign exchange banks, as well as many
hotels and tourist-oriented stores.
TippingTipping is not customary in Taiwan. A 10 percent service
charge is often added to room rates and meals at hotels
and restaurants.
ElectricityAC 110 V / 60 Hz
Visa InformationBureau of Consular Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Phone: (+886-2) 2343-2888
Website: www.boca.gov.tw
8382
Eastern TaiwanTaroko National Park: www.taroko.gov.twTaiwan Forest Recreation Areas: recreation.forest.gov.twEast Coast National Scenic Area: www.eastcoast-nsa.gov.twEast Rift Valley National Scenic Area: www.erv-nsa.gov.tw
Southern TaiwanKenting National Park: www.ktnp.gov.twAlishan (Mount Ali) National Scenic Area: www.ali-nsa.netSiraya National Scenic Area: www.siraya-nsa.gov.tw
Outlying IslandsKinmen National Park: www.kmnp.gov.twPenghu National Scenic Area: www.penghu-nsa.gov.twMatsu National Scenic Area: www.matsu-nsa.gov.twGreen Island and Orchid Island: tour.taitung.gov.tw
MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Customs RegulationsCustoms AdministrationMinistry of FinancePhone: (+886-2) 2550-5500 ext. 2116Website: web.customs.gov.tw
Northern TaiwanNational Palace Museum: www.npm.gov.twTaipei 101: www.taipei-101.com.twYingge Ceramics Museum: www.ceramics.ntpc.gov.twShilin Night Market: eng.taiwan.net.twNational Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall: www.cksmh.gov.twLungshan Temple: www.lungshan.org.twYangmingshan National Park: www.ymsnp.gov.twNortheast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area: www.necoast-nsa.gov.twNorth Coast and Guanyinshan National Scenic Area: www.northguan-nsa.gov.tw
Central TaiwanSun Moon Lake National Scenic Area: www.sunmoonlake.gov.twFormosan Aboriginal Culture Village: www.nine.com.twTri-Mountain National Scenic Area: www.trimt-nsa.gov.twNational Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute: www.ntcri.gov.twLukang Township: www.lukang.gov.twNational Museum of Natural Science: www.nmns.edu.twYushan (Jade Mountain) National Park: www.ysnp.gov.tw
8584
DO YOU KNOW?
Traditional Chinese characters are a
treasured cultural legacy and product
of thousands of years of linguistic
evolution. In modern Taiwan, traditional
Chinese characters are utilized as the
written form of Mandarin, one of the
nation’s official languages.
• The number of foreign students learning Mandarin in Taiwan has doubled over the past decade.
• The government’s Huayu Enrichment Scholarship offers financial support to foreign students who wish to study Mandarin in Taiwan.
LEARNING MANDARIN
International students outside the Mandarin Training Center at National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei City (Chuang Kung-ju)
8786
To encourage international students to learn Mandarin
in Taiwan, the MOE established the Huayu Enrichment
Scholarship. This program enables foreign students to
undertake Mandarin courses at affiliated language training
centers around the nation, while also boosting international
awareness and understanding of Taiwan culture and society.
The scholarships are awarded by ROC representative
offices or embassies based on the merits of the applicants.
A monthly stipend of NT$25,000 (US$825) is provided to
scholarship recipients. Applicants may select the duration
of the scholarship, which can last for two months (summer
course), three months, six months, nine months, or a
maximum of one year.
A list of university Mandarin training centers and information
on learning Mandarin in Taiwan can be found on the
websites of the MOE (www.edu.tw), Study in Taiwan (www.
studyintaiwan.org) and the Office of Global Mandarin
Education (gmeo.org/gcle).
In addition, the Overseas Community Affairs Council has
created the website www.huayuworld.org to offer a friendly,
convenient digital learning platform for overseas Chinese/
Taiwan communities and those interested in traditional
Chinese characters. Teacher training programs are also held
annually to promote the use of traditional Chinese characters
so that their beauty can be appreciated worldwide.
Taiwan is home to numerous high-level institutions that
offer Mandarin language classes to non-native speakers.
Since the establishment of the Mandarin Training Center
at National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei City in 1956,
52 university language institutes have been set up across
the country. The number of foreign students attending
these centers increased from 9,135 in the 2005-06 school
year to 19,977 in the 2015-16 school year, according to
statistics from the Ministry of Education (MOE).
The MOE offers short-term study programs for groups of
overseas Mandarin teachers as well as foreign students
of the language. Under these initiatives, the MOE
provides subsidies to groups of teachers from abroad
who wish to visit the nation to enhance their professional
development and/or observe Mandarin teaching in
Taiwan. The MOE also offers subsidies to groups of
students to study Mandarin in the country during the
summer and winter academic breaks. Students find that
in addition to being able to enjoy the benefits of modern
teaching facilities, they gain a great deal of knowledge
about Chinese culture by experiencing Taiwan’s unique
blend of tradition and modernity. Students attending
classes in Taiwan can also learn traditional and simplified
Chinese characters while enjoying the advantages of
living in a free and democratic society.
Cover photo: Lantern Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the first month on the lunar calendar. (Hsueh Chi-kuang)
